WAY TO REDEMPTION

Movie - Paper lives (Kağıttan Hayatlar)
Written by - Ercan Mehmet Erdem 
In the year - 2021

What if Mehmet Survived?

In the original version, we learn that Ali never truly existed. He was a projection of Mehmet’s wounded childhood, a symbol of the boy he once was — unloved, abandoned, and longing for care. The film ends with Mehmet’s tragic death, leaving the audience with an aching sense of despair.
But imagine this: Mehmet doesn’t die. Instead, the revelation that Ali was a figment of his mind becomes the turning point of his journey.

Alternate ending 

In this alternate ending, Mehmet realizes that the child he cared for so deeply was his subconscious forcing him to confront years of unhealed trauma. Rather than breaking him, this truth awakens something powerful. Ali represents the innocence Mehmet lost, but also the love he still carries within.
Instead of giving in to despair, Mehmet chooses life. He seeks medical help for his illness, reconnects with the community of garbage collectors who once looked up to him, and begins to turn his pain into purpose. By acknowledging that Ali was a projection, he accepts that he cannot change the past — but he can shape the future.
The film could close with Mehmet walking through the alleys of Istanbul, but this time he isn’t looking for Ali. He’s searching for real children who, like him, grew up invisible to society. His new mission: to protect and provide for them, giving them the chance he never had.
In this version, the story still carries weight, grief, and realism — but it also carries hope. Instead of dying alone, Mehmet finds redemption in helping others.
By letting Mehmet live, the film could transform from a tale of sorrow into one of resilience, without losing its emotional depth. It would still honor the struggles of street children and forgotten souls — but it would also remind us that survival and recovery are possible.

Final thoughts 

Sometimes, changing just one moment in a story can shift despair into hope. For Paper Lives, keeping Mehmet alive would not erase the pain, but it would remind us that even in the darkest corners, the possibility of healing remains.


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